7 keys to detect if someone is lying to you

Although it is hard for us to admit it, we have all lied at some point. In fact, we lie more than we think. At least that is what the data from an investigation that was published in “Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception” seems to indicate, an editorial by author Pamela Meyer.

The researchers of this study conclude that human beings we tell lies between 10 and 200 times a day, because we often omit parts of the truth or exaggerate things when we talk to other people. In other words, we tend to say things that are socially acceptable. If what we have to say we believe is not well received by the other party, we add some fallacy to the conversation.

Lying is common when we meet someone new

However, the results of the investigations regarding lies provide more data. In fact, we tend to lie more when we just met a person. “We tell two or three lies in the first 10 minutes of the first conversation with someone we we just met," says Robert Feldman, a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts and author from the book The liar in your life.

But despite telling enough lies, when it comes to detecting them when someone tells us, we are not very good. According to a study by Brigham Young University in the United States, when someone lies to us, we only realize it between 54% and 56% of the time.

How to catch a liar

Discovering a liar is complicated, and it can be challenging to know if someone is lying to you. Even detecting that there may be something strange in someone's words, when you are not sure if they are being honest or not, hundreds of thoughts go through your mind. There is always that doubt or possibility that you are wrong in your suspicions.

Fortunately, thanks to the people who have cared to investigate this phenomenon, today we know that there are some factors that can reveal those who lie; knowledge that is very useful especially in the Forensic psychology. These keys to detect lies are the following:

1. Nonverbal language

Obviously, we must pay attention to the context before we can tell if the person is lying or not, although there are a number of non-verbal signs that could indicate that a person is lying. Therefore, if you are suspicious of what someone tells you, you can pay more attention to gestures instead of words.

Liars tend to keep their hands hidden. That is, they put their hands together, hold them behind their backs, or place them in their pockets. They also find it difficult to sit upright and have a rather tense posture. Some experts also claim that covering your mouth or scratching your nose could indicate that the person is hiding something, as it is a way to not reveal microexpressions.

The look seems to be key to detect lies because if the liar has to think something, he can move his eyes slightly up or to the left (right-handed) or right (left-handed). If you look them straight in the eye, often avoid eye contact.

2. Breathing

Breathing could indicate that a person is lying. Their way of breathing is usually faster and the mouth is often dry, because the person is in a rather tense situation, and he wants to avoid being caught at all costs. This can cause you to swallow constantly. This actually happens because his heart beats faster and his lungs require more air than in a calm situation.

3. how he talks

Since the person is lying and his breathing is affected, his way of speaking is also different. Experts say that he either talks faster or slower than normal. Also, when a person tells a lie, his voice can become higher pitched, as the tension makes the vocal cords tense. If you put the liar in trouble, he's more likely to stutter.

4. What does it say

When we lie, we feel more vulnerable and uncomfortable (unless we are psychopaths), and even though the person is an experienced liar, he is not going to want to be caught. This causes me to try to change the subject quickly. to prevent the lie from getting out of hand. Also, it is less likely that the liar uses the words "I" and "mine" in an attempt to psychologically distance himself from the false stories about him.

5. Connection between what you say and what you do

Instead of looking at the behaviors separately, it is more important to make a general assessment of everything that involves the situation. When a person is honest, what he says and what he does sync up and form a coherent whole. Not only that, but they also synchronize with said situation.

If you know the person who is lying, it may be easier to detect their deceit, as experts believe that you can see if there is a change from their usual behavior. and if there is little coherence between what is said and what is done (as he hilariously showed us the simpsons series). Furthermore, when someone simulates an emotion, it can only be seen around the mouth. For example, for the emotion of joy, just move your mouth, instead of moving your jaw, forehead, and eyes.

6. Sweat

Lying causes even experienced liars to feel some degree of stress or pressure. AND when we lie, even if it's a minor lie, we sweat more. This occurs because sweating is a natural response to stress. So sweating is quite common when telling a lie and a signal to spot a liar.

7. On the defensive

Liars smile less because they are in a tense situation, but if you put them to the test on top of that, they usually they become extremely defensive. If you ask them a question, they can avoid it and even refuse to answer, and if you get them to answer they will do it with a phrase like "Why do you want to know that?" or "That's not important right now." This will happen because you are surely on the ropes.

How to detect a liar on WhatsApp

If face to face it is already difficult to detect a liar, it is even worse when the person is talking to you on WhatsApp. In this situation, you can't observe his non-verbal language, hear his tone of voice, tell if he's sweating… and you can't tell if what he says and does are congruent.

Now, an investigation seems to have found the key to detecting liars in a conversation on this application.

• If you want to know more about this topic, you can read our article: “How can I know if they are lying to me on WhatsApp?